A “fellow” horror writer lambasted a dear friend and amazing woman for doing book signings while in costume and…I’m not quite sure what else. Being a woman? He said women were especially bad at trying to grab attention (“claiming” we’re horror writers when we aren’t) and most of us are hags anyway.

That’s right. Most of us are hags.

I’m sorry, but how did appearance even manage to worm its way into this conversation? This author has one book out and a second releasing soon. Yet he has the authority to decide who is really a horror writer and who isn’t? And bringing physical appearance into it is exceptionally personal. He doesn’t like the way most of us look? Next time I’ll be careful to wear a helmet while signing so I don’t offend readers…

Do you know when you can and can’t pass a school bus? There are three school bus stops on my way to work, and all three of them are within a 3-mile radius of my work, which is annoying as hell when I’m trying to get to work on time. I ask you if you know when you can and can’t pass a school bus because if you do happen to pass one when the red lights are flashing and the stop sign is out–and if a police officer happens to catch you–that is a ticket that cannot ever be removed from your driving record, last I recall. The PDF linked here regarding State Laws may help you to determine the laws in your state. In AZ, it’s pretty simplified, but not when it comes to the yellow flashing lights that flare up prior to the red ones.

For the past week, I have unfortunately hit the same stop at the same moment four times when the bus stops and the yellow lights start flashing. It’s the panic-driven moment of “do I stop or can I keep going without getting a goddamn ticket? And is the bastard going to flip that stop sign out right at the moment I’m passing him?” I think the latter is the scariest part because what if s/he’s having a bad morning and there’s a cop right fucking there? At any rate, those flashing yellow lights are warnings, just like the yellow traffic lights. The bus driver warns us (for a good long while too, in my case, thank the gods) that he’s going to be hitting that red soon so the students can hop on the bus.

Since I work for the same district, I hope that bus driver never has a bad morning as I’m passing by.

…and my hope for you is that this year and beyond is prosperous and filled with happy memories.

Wibbly Wobbly Timey Wimey

I started this post yesterday, and then got distracted by several things and forgot about it until now when I came to do something else on my blog and, “Oh hey, I started a fucking post yesterday and didn’t finish it! Shit.”

Welcome to my world.

*shiny*

I noticed a lot of people complaining about 2014 and how it sucked. For once, I can’t say the same. My year was pretty okay. Maybe not spectacular or out-fucking-standing, but great things take time to come to pass, and I’m all right with that, so “okay” works for me right now because not so long ago it was completely shitty for several years in a row.

At any rate, Happy New Year! I hope 2015 is an improvement for you.

PS: my laptop decided to be a bitch in the midst of me writing this and I hadn’t saved it and had to reboot, but by some fucking miracle, it’s all here. Just thought I’d share that with you. ;)

…because let me tell you, it’s damn difficult coming up with these things every day, especially on days you’re not feeling so grateful, which is of course the day you really NEED to do it.

Just do it.

For fuck’s sake.

*sigh*

Today isn’t that bad, but I’m exhausted. From what, I have no fucking clue, but I just want to crawl back into bed and sleep all day. Probably because I’ve been sick for about two weeks now. Also, it’s not helping matters when I’m up all night playing Assassin’s Creed: Revelations, but c’mon, that game is awesome! It’s not like I’m losing sleep.

On the bright side, I’m not using sick days, of which I have none left, so it’s good that I have another week off. On the shitty side, I’m fucking sick during not only the holidays but also during my nearly two-week-long winter break. Not cool.

So I don’t know what the fuck I’m grateful for today. I suppose it could be that I work at a pretty cool job that allows me long breaks like this fully paid and without using all of my vacation time (I’m having to use one day on the 2nd). Sometimes, it’s real nice working for a school district. :)

What are you grateful for today, and is anyone else fucking sick right now? Sheesh. *cough*

…and I’ve missed an entire week of these, haven’t I? Oh wait, I did one on Monday. Never mind.

So Christmas has arrived and I don’t know what the rest of you got for gifts, but you can’t top a dragon! That’s right, I got a dragon. I’m now the Mother of Dragons.

Okay, his name is Smaug and he’s only six inches tall, but whatever.

Smaug, the all-powerful

In all seriousness, though, today I am grateful to have the ability to spoil those I love with things they want. If you’ve been around here at all the last five or six years, you know that I haven’t been able to do that and how much it pained me because I truly enjoy giving gifts and seeing faces light up. Oh, I know it’s the thought that counts, but when you’re on the end of not being able to buy anything at all for people you care about while others buy things, thoughts become melancholy and it outright sucks. I have worked my ass off to get back on my feet and take control of my life once again. The only thing that truly gets to you is the amount of time it takes with that hard work. No one tells you how long it will take because it’s different for everyone. Me? I drowned myself in the well of depression for two years (though I had a pretty damn good reason with the love of my life walking out on me), so it really wasn’t until I suddenly had to take care of my mother that I got my ass in gear.

I have two driving forces (or motivations) in my life: money and Umi. The former helps me take care of the latter, though the latter is most important.